Research & Article

The presence of laws in Thailand designed to protect the tangible cultural heritage of ancient monuments, antiques and artworks dates back to over a century prior. However, the current laws in force, which are based on the 1961 Act and subsequent amendments, are not always as effective as they should be. Thus, in 2008 the Fine Arts Department proposed a legal development plan to amend the current legislation, which passed scrutiny by the Council of State and was in the legislative process at the time of publication. This article aims to outline the development of cultural heritage law in Thailand, beginning with the early history of preservation in Bangkok and the first legislation on museums and exports. Particular emphasis is placed on the Act of 1934 and the Act of 1961.